Overland Park, Kan. / March 2, 2026 — Weichert, Realtors® – Welch & Company is proud to announce that Co-Owners Kent Welch and Cory Stewart have been honored with the Franchisee Excellence Award from Franchise Business Review. The prestigious award recognizes franchise owners across various industries who exemplify outstanding leadership, strong business performance, and a commitment to their communities.
Welch and Stewart were selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by franchise brands that participate in Franchise Business Review’s satisfaction research.
“We are incredibly honored to receive the Franchisee Excellence Award,” said Welch and Stewart in a joint statement. “This recognition reflects the dedication and commitment of our entire team. We are grateful for the trust our clients place in us and for the support of the Weichert network, which helps us continually raise the bar in service and performance.”
The recognition comes on the heels of another exceptional year for Weichert, Realtors® – Welch & Company. Under Welch and Stewart’s leadership, the brokerage once again secured the top spot as the highest-producing company and office in the Weichert® national franchise system for 2025. It marks the second straight year the brokerage earned the Pinnacle Top Company Award and fourth straight for the Pinnacle Top Office Award.
Welch and Stewart’s highly effective agent recruitment model and their hands-on leadership approach that focuses on agent development have been key to the company’s continued success. Their dedication to coaching and mentoring agents has helped build a high-performing team that consistently delivers exceptional results for their clients.
Beyond their own office’s achievements, Welch and Stewart have distinguished themselves as leaders within the Weichert franchise community. They consistently invest their time, expertise, and resources to support fellow franchise owners and help elevate performance across the system. Stewart has served as a featured speaker and panelist at numerous national Weichert conferences, sharing insights on agent recruitment strategies and the brokerage’s success in new home construction sales. By sharing their systems and strategies, Welch and Stewart have helped other franchise owners strengthen their businesses and expand into new opportunities, while becoming two of the most trusted and respected leaders in the franchise system.
Weichert, Realtors® – Welch & Company is an independently owned and operated Weichert affiliate.
For more information about Weichert, Realtors® – Welch & Company, call 913-647-5700 or visit www.weichertkchomes.com.
To view the complete list of Franchisee Excellence Award winners, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/franchisee-excellence-awards/.
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About Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.: Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. is a top real estate franchisor established in 2001 by Jim Weichert, president, chairman and CEO of Weichert Companies, which has been in operation since 1969. The company provides a clearly defined business model for operating, managing, and marketing a real estate brokerage, along with industry-leading technology, marketing tools, and support. Its first affiliate opened in 2002, and the franchise network has since grown to over 320 offices, serving markets in 40 states. The company has appeared on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list as a top residential real estate franchise and been identified by Franchise Business Review as a top franchise in owner satisfaction 11 years in a row. For more information about Weichert, visit Weichert.com. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit WeichertFranchise.com.
Each Weichert® franchised office is independently owned and operated.
